ADRIAN — Elected officials, law enforcement colleagues, and family members of the late Richard Germond gathered on May 22 as the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office building was dedicated in his name.

Germond retired as Lenawee County sheriff in 2001 after 36 years in office. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving sheriff in the state. He died last spring at the age of 90.

His former colleagues remembered him as a mentor and as someone who was dedicated to serving the people of Lenawee County.

“He knew about the importance of making sure everyone knew that the police were here to help and that we were here to serve the community,” Sheriff Troy Bevier said.

Former sheriff Jack Welsh, who preceded Bevier in the office, said Germond’s reputation extended far beyond Lenawee County. He noted that Germond served as president of both the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association and the National Sheriffs’ Association.

“Sheriff Germond was an icon,” he said.

Welsh added that the sheriff’s office building seems like an especially appropriate way to honor Germond because he worked so hard to get it built.

“Nobody fought harder to get a new building than he did,” Welsh said. “For me personally, to see his name on the side of this building means a lot.”

County commissioner David Aungst, who is retired from the sheriff’s office, talked about how Germond got to know everybody in the office personally, taking an interest in their lives. He also noted Germond’s fairness. His community activities meant that if a deputy pulled somebody over on road patrol, that person might well be somebody who knew the sheriff. But, Aungst said, “as long as we went out and did our jobs and we were fair about it, he stood by us 100 percent.”

Retired Adrian police chief Terry Collins, who is also now a county commissioner, called Germond “a giant of a man” and fondly recalled his mentorship over the years.

Lynne Blocksom, one of Germond’s five daughters, noted that at one point in his career, he was offered the position of executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association. In that role, he could have been a voice for all sheriffs across the country, working on training initiatives and driving public policy. “He declined the position when he found out he would have to uproot his family, move to Washington D.C., and leave the community he had served for so many years,” she said.